remove

verb re·move \ ri-ˈmüv \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of remove

removed; removing

transitive verb

1 a : to change the location, position, station, or residence of

remove soldiers to the front

b : to transfer (a legal proceeding) from one court to another

2 : to move by lifting, pushing aside, or taking away or off

remove your hat

3 : to dismiss from office

4 : to get rid of : eliminate

remove a tumor surgically

intransitive verb

1 : to change location, station, or residence

removing from the city to the suburbs

2 : to go away

3 : to be capable of being removed

—

removability

play \ri-ˌmü-və-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

removable

or less commonly removeable play \ri-ˈmü-və-bəl\ adjective

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removableness

play \ri-ˈmü-və-bəl-nəs\ noun

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removably

play \ri-ˈmü-və-blē\ adverb

—

remover

noun

See remove defined for English-language learners

See remove defined for kids

Examples of remove in a Sentence

Remove the trash from the front yard.
My tonsils were removed when I was five years old.
Trees help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
These new findings should remove any doubt about his innocence.
What's a good way to remove stains from a silk dress?
The new law would remove obstacles to obtaining a work permit.
He was removed from office.

Recent Examples of remove from the Web

President Donald Trump's decision to remove the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and reimpose sanctions on the sale of crude sent global buyers of Iranian oil scrambling to line up other sources of supply.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "Get ready for higher prices at the pump in west suburbs," 10 May 2018
In 2003, the state fined the owners of the North Broadway lot $4,000 for failing to remove and fill the unused underground storage tanks on the property, and for not completing the paving and car lot striping required by the special-use permit.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "Aurora to settle lawsuit with environmentally troubled car lot," 10 May 2018
In 2011, a commission of experts recommended to Spain's parliament that Franco's remains be removed and the Valley of the Fallen be transformed into a depoliticized memorial site.

— james badcock, latimes.com, "Inside the Valley of the Fallen, a search for two brothers killed in the Spanish Civil War," 10 May 2018
The school board approved bids totaling almost $327,000 for various projects including removing and replacing asphalt at Chesterton High School and Liberty Elementary.

— meredith colias-pete, Post-Tribune, "Duneland school board approves $500K in summer construction projects, new high school principal," 9 May 2018
Lopez reciprocated by removing his cap and tapping it with his glove.

— teddy greenstein, chicagotribune.com, "White Sox bullpen blows it in 6-5 loss to Pirates," 9 May 2018
By the time the game arrived on May 1, 2013, Lane-Dupre was in remission after having a kidney removed and undergoing chemotherapy.

— jamie goldberg, OregonLive.com, "5 years later, cancer survivor Atticus Lane-Dupre is healthy, happy and still playing soccer," 9 May 2018
Use the tip of the scissors to remove and discard the vein.

— susan selasky, Detroit Free Press, "National Shrimp Day: How to buy, store and cook the seafood favorite," 9 May 2018
But Columbus Nova also has been removing and playing down stronger previous descriptions of its relationship with the Russian firm.

— andrew kaczynski, CNN, "US firm scrubs website, distancing itself from Russian oligarch," 9 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'remove.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of remove

Middle English remeven, removen, from Anglo-French remuver, removeir, from Latin removēre, from re- + movēre to move

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

remove Synonyms

remove

noun

Definition of remove

1 : removal; specifically : move 2c

2 a : a distance or interval separating one person or thing from another

b : a degree or stage of separation

See remove defined for English-language learners

Examples of remove in a Sentence

She thrives when she's at some remove from mainstream society.
their farm is just a remove of two miles from the town center

Recent Examples of remove from the Web

But each knows uncomfortable details about the other’s past, an awareness that initially keeps them at a coiled remove.

— ben brantley, New York Times, "Review: ‘Transfers’ and the Anguished Art of the College Interview," 23 Apr. 2018
As one high-major giant after another bowed out, Kansas and Duke plowed ahead, at a remove from the tumult.

— chris johnson, SI.com, "Malik Newman's Surprising Star Turn Comes at the Perfect Time for Final Four-Bound Kansas," 26 Mar. 2018
One of the oddities of Mr. Spielberg’s direction this time around is that a filmmaker often faulted for a sentimental streak has made a film mainly, though not entirely, notable for emotional remove.

— joe morgenstern, WSJ, "‘Ready Player One’ Review: Motion Trounces Emotion," 29 Mar. 2018
Some of the changes bring into the open party agencies that have operated at a remove with little transparency.

— chun han wong, WSJ, "China’s Xi Tightens Party Reins Over Streamlined Government," 21 Mar. 2018
The casualties of Russian interference in our election are a far remove from the thousands lost during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, or at Pearl Harbor.

— author: katrina vanden heuvel | opinion, Anchorage Daily News, "On Russia, we need more reason and less frenzy," 28 Feb. 2018
There is a certain comfort in writing at one remove from characters, but there is also an implicit political imperative.

— hermione hoby, New Republic, "Zadie Smith’s Book of Essays Explores What It Means to Be Human," 20 Feb. 2018
And from the safe remove of 6,500 miles, they could be enjoyed.

— phil rosenthal, chicagotribune.com, "Live-streamed without NBC commentators, Olympics opening ceremony a runaway sensation," 9 Feb. 2018
While the Gulf has always raged with hurricanes, Avery was at a safe remove.

— julia o'donoghue, NOLA.com, "Avery Island threatened, Wendy Vitter and Puerto Ricans at Tulane: Louisiana politics today (Jan. 29)," 29 Jan. 2018

First Known Use of remove

1553

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

remove Synonyms

Synonyms

distance, lead, length, spacing, spread, stretch, way;

extension, extent;

cast, range, reach, scope, shot, sweep, throw;

drop, fall, flight, haul;

berth, clearance;

REMOVE Defined for English Language Learners

remove

verb

Definition of remove for English Language Learners

: to move or take (something) away from a place
: to cause (something) to no longer exist
: to force (someone) to leave a job : to dismiss (someone) from a job

remove

noun

Definition of remove for English Language Learners

: a distance separating one person or thing from another

REMOVE Defined for Kids

remove

verb re·move \ ri-ˈmüv \

Definition of remove for Students

removed; removing

1 : to move by lifting or taking off or away

Please remove your hat.

I had my tonsils removed.

2 : to get rid of

Bleach will remove the stain.

3 : to dismiss from a job or office

Law Dictionary

remove

verb re·move \ ri-ˈmüv \

legal Definition of remove

removed; removing

transitive verb

: to change the location, position, station, status, or residence of: as

a : to have (an action) transferred from one court to another and especially from a state court to a federal court — see also separable controversy

Note: Section 1441 et seq. of title 28 of the U.S. Code allows a defendant who is brought into a state court to remove the action to federal district court when diversity of citizenship exists, when the action involves a claim or right arising under the U.S. Constitution or under laws or treaties of the U.S., or when the defendant is a foreign country or its agency or instrumentality. Civil actions and criminal prosecutions brought against an officer or agency of the U.S. for any act under color of office may also be removed.

b : to dismiss from office